What the council will check

This content applies to England only.

Housing laws vary between England and Scotland. This page applies to England only. Get advice relating to Scotland

If you ask the council for help because you are homeless or threatened with homelessness, it will need to look into your circumstances to establish what sort of help you are entitled to.

The links below provide more detailed information about each of the issues the council will need to look into. You can also use our online assessment to find out what you might be entitled to.

Overview of council enquiries

The council has to look at up to five main issues when it assesses your homelessness application. Read more 

Legal definition of homelessness

The first thing the council should assess is whether you are homeless, or likely to lose your home within the next 28 days. You don't have to be sleeping on the streets to be considered homeless. Read more 

Eligibility for assistance

The council has to consider certain issues before it decides whether a person making a homelessness application is eligible for assistance. This section explains what those issues are and what you should do if the council decides that you are not eligible. What does being eligible for assistance mean? Read more 

Priority need

Pregnant women, people with children, 16 and 17 year olds, certain care leavers, victims of fire, flood or other disasters and people who are vulnerable for other reasons. Being in priority may mean you are entitled to emergency housing from the council. Read more 

Intentional homelessness

Look into the options you have if the council decides that you are 'intentionally homeless'. Read more 

Local connection

The council may refer you to the council for another area if you don't have a local connection. This can only happen in some situations and there are rules that must be followed. Read more